Happy Anniversary 338 Win Mag

[SJB358]

Well, my wife has really gone and out done herself. From a tip from Mason Payer, she went and got the only rifle I wouldn't have ever thought of getting. Having a real Pre 64 Model 70 Alaskan in 338 Win Mag was something I kinda dreamed of, but my wife made it happen. When she told me that she wanted to get it for me for our 10th Anniversary I was floored and to be honest, I am still floored. To a rifle nut like me, it really doesn't get any better than this rifle. I wanted to share it with you all, but man, my mind is spinning right now.

Man, I can't tell you all how happy I am right now. This rifle is going to see Idaho this year as long as it shoots well for me. I happen to have a couple of loads already and such, so I am hoping to get it shooting pretty quickly.. Man, I love my wife sooooo much, I am not sure how she does it, but man, she knows me so well!

Here are a couple of pictures from 10 years ago at our wedding..

 

[JD338]

Scotty,

That is awesome buddy! What a rifle, congratulations.
Some 210 gr PT's at 2950-3000 fps will put the smack on a bull for sure.

JD338

 

[Woodycreek]

Was wondering how long it would take you to post about it :lol: Heck of a gift! Can't wait to see it!

 

[gerry]

Scotty, your wife is a keeper nice gift.

 

[SJB358]

Thanks guys, you have no idea how HAPPY I am right now..

 

[FOTIS]

What not a remington? I am shocked!

Seriously great rifle and a lovely bride!

 

[Oldtrader3]

Scotty, you are a lucky man to have such a lovely wife. My hat is off to her. She has paid the entry fee into an exclusive group of people who have owned a real, genuine Alaskan Model 70's in either .300 H&H, .338 Win Mag or .375 H&H. Only 9,525 Alaskan Model chambered in .338 WM were made between 1955 and 1958. After 1958, these chamberings were a standard rifle with 24 inch barrel and no red recoil pad. Your rifle is probably 25 inch barrel and appears to be in really good condition. Congratulations Scotty, that is a beautiful rifle, use it well!

I have owned (2) .338 Alaskan and (1) .300 H&H Alaskan rifles over the years and they are hard to find in the condition your rifle appears to be in. My two rifles shot well and required some small amount of bedding work but shot close to MOA accuracy with a little coaxing. I think most of these Model 70's went to Alaska and were guide rifles there. They did not make many and most were used by guides and are well used.

 

[SJB358]

What not a remington? I am shocked!

Man, that stings being in the same post! :twisted:

 

[BK]

Nice rifle and a heck of a wife. One thing I gotta ask... just how tall is your wife?

 

[SJB358]

Nice rifle and a heck of a wife. One thing I gotta ask... just how tall is your wife?

About 5-10/11... Heels add another bit to the height! :lol:

 

[DrMike]

Congratulations, Scotty. That is a seriously excellent and thoughtful anniversary gift. Consequently, who's the young fellow standing with your wife in her wedding gown?

 

[onesonek]

Congrats Scotty to you and your's! That truely is some gift!! I could get by with that being my only rifle if need be.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Awesome buddy. That is seriously way cool.

 

[Hegland]

You, sir, have two keepers there! Congratulations man, both on the anniversary and the rifle. Glad you made it back home, and what a way to come back!

Of course, you also realize this frees up your other .338 for a new barrel... weren't you saying something about a .358 Norma?! :twisted:

 

[Guy Miner]

Congrats Scotty - that's terrific.

And you got a pretty cool rifle too.

 

[DrMike]

Of course, you also realize this frees up your other .338 for a new barrel... weren't you saying something about a .358 Norma?! :twisted:

Ah, yes, the enabler is enabled. :grin:

 

[SJB358]

You, sir, have two keepers there! Congratulations man, both on the anniversary and the rifle. Glad you made it back home, and what a way to come back!

Of course, you also realize this frees up your other .338 for a new barrel... weren't you saying something about a .358 Norma?! :twisted:

I know. I'm not sure what I'm going to do now to be honest. I still wanna build a 35 caliber magnum so maybe the old 338 will make it happen. I am not sure I will be able to put this new 338 down though. Might have to call Bartlein and see what they do for 35 cals.

 

[Desert Fox]

Wow! what a great wife and what a find. Congratulation buddy. You're one lucky man.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Your Alaskan .338 WM is like owning a museum piece that you can shoot and hunt with. Plus the .338 Win Mag is one of the greatest cartridges for elk, at least in my limited experience of killing a few elk with one using both a Browning High Power and a couple of Alaskan Model 70 .338 WM's. I never did anything to change the originality of my Alaskan's, they are too hard to find in the condition that yours is in. It is like a fudiciary duty to keep them original for the generations to come.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Congrats on a happy 10 yrs and a well-thought out gift. That M70 is in very nice shape and as OT3 stated, a hard find. Hopefully you found a gift for her that's commensurate as she seems to be extremely conscientious of your interests.

I have to LOL as I'm sure your brain is spinning as to what to carry out west now. :lol: There are no bad choices as your stable of rifles is full of fine stock.